Filipinos in Iran and Lebanon may no longer be covered by the mandatory repatriation imposed by the government with the downgrading of alert levels in the Middle East, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Thursday.
“Initially, the level of alert for Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon are the same—[Alert Level] 4. Although it was unofficial, I was informed yesterday that the alert level in Lebanon was put down to level 2 and I understand that there’s no more alert level in Iran,” Bello said.
But Bello stressed that the ban on fresh deployment of workers stays as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will not be processing any application to the two countries for the meantime.
Meanwhile, the mandatory evacuation for OFWs in Iraq is still in place, he said. A deployment ban is also in effect.
The Department of Foreign Affairs determines the level of alert and issues advisories to Filipinos for their safety and security. Alert level 4 means the mandatory repatriation of Filipino workers in crisis-stricken areas.
The highest alert level was raised in Iraq and Iran the other day following the bombing by Iran of US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the killing by the US of a key Iranian military commander.
